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reinstall Thunderbird on new computer

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  • Last reply by Matt

jhallows1
jhallows1
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I am trying to reinstall Thunderbird on a new PC with Windows 10 64-bit. The previous installation was 32-bit. When I encountered the problem I've described below, I noted that TB was installed in "Program Files (x86)." When I reinstalled TB, I did not have the option to select "Program Files." I don't know if this makes a difference. Now for my problem.

I have restored my backup files to ...Appdata\Roaming\. I have one profile named 4m75enq9.default. I reset the profile using profilemanager. When I launch Thunderbird, it does not recover my emails or my contacts. In Thunderbird Troubleshooting Information, when I look at "Profile Folder" and click on "Open folder," the folder it gives is 4m75enq9.default. My question: how do I get back my emails and contacts.

Thanks,

I am trying to reinstall Thunderbird on a new PC with Windows 10 64-bit. The previous installation was 32-bit. When I encountered the problem I've described below, I noted that TB was installed in "Program Files (x86)." When I reinstalled TB, I did not have the option to select "Program Files." I don't know if this makes a difference. Now for my problem. I have restored my backup files to ...Appdata\Roaming\. I have one profile named 4m75enq9.default. I reset the profile using profilemanager. When I launch Thunderbird, it does not recover my emails or my contacts. In Thunderbird Troubleshooting Information, when I look at "Profile Folder" and click on "Open folder," the folder it gives is 4m75enq9.default. My question: how do I get back my emails and contacts. Thanks,

All Replies (4)

Matt
Matt
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did you notice you were not offered an upgrade? now you know why.

Now why did you restore your backup files? nothing should have been deleted by the bug, just lost. So are we starting from the back foot because you have restored a damaged profile?

Windows key + R type %appdata%\Thunderbird\profiles press enter what folder are shown there?

jhallows1
jhallows1 Question owner
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"did you notice you were not offered an upgrade? now you know why."

No, I don't know why and I'm not sure what an upgrade has to do with my problem.

"Now why did you restore your backup files? "

Because as I said in my original post, I have a new computer and restoring my files seems to be only way to get them onto it.

"nothing should have been deleted by the bug, just lost. "

What bug? TB was working fine on my old computer and I regularly backed up all my files including my profile. But when I restore them on my new machine, I don't get the emails or my contacts. As for the profile, as I said in my original post, TB points to the correct folder that I restored. My question is why I'm not getting emails or contacts.

jhallows1
jhallows1 Question owner
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I have an additional factor that may affect the problem I have in restoring TB files to my new computer. On my old computer, my Windows username was my full name, first and last. On the new version of Windows, my username has been set to "jhall". Of course, my TB backups were from my original username account. I am wondering if the change in username could be the cause of the problem or if other users have experienced the same problem in trying to restore TB files to a different username.

Thanks.

Matt
Matt
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I am guessing this applies. https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html but you have no profiles.ini file for that advice to work from.

I would suggest you delete the Thunderbird folder from appdata\roaming and appdata\local and then download and install V68.2 afresh. Do not run the program. 68.2 includes a fix for the 32 to 64bit conversion and loss of profile folders that went with it.

Copy the entire appdata\Thunderbird profile from your old computer. Make sure the profiles.ini file is included.